Apr 13, 2010

Leeward CC Participates in the Million Trees of Aloha, April - Oct. 2010

The Million Trees of Aloha Campaign was launched on Saturday, April 10, 2010 by the Keiki Caucus of the Hawai'i State Legislature and the Children and Youth Month Planning Committee. The goal of this campaign is to get peope to plant a million trees in Hawai'i by the end of October 2010, October being Children and Youth Month. It would be best if the trees people plant would be non-invasive species, preferably native and/or food-bearing trees.

An endangered, native plant called na'u, a gardenia, was highlighted at the April 10th event. Those of us attending received one na'u and a large bag of mulch, distributed free by Kanu Hawai'i, a non-profit community organization. These plants were grown at the Hui ku Maoli Ola Nursery in Kane'ohe. We each signed a pledge to care for and plant the tree.

Our new little na'u has been entrusted to the capable and caring hands of Frani Okamoto, LCC's Shade House and Native Plant Collection Manager, until it grows and is ready to be planted out on campus later this year.

If you want to participate in the Million Trees of Aloha by planting a tree in Hawai'i between now and October, Kanu Hawai'i would appreciate knowing about it. You can post information and even a photo of your tree-planting at their website: www.kanuhawaii.org/milliontreesofaloha. They hope to be able to verify that a million trees have been planted.